0208 248 2355
Questions about your booking? Contact Us
Login The second of our Signature-class ships, Nieuw Amsterdam celebrates historic New York City with its inspired design and an art collection valued at more than $3 million. While on board enjoy regional cooking demonstrations and food and wine tastings with Port to Table programming. Dine in your choice of specialty restaurants. Or rejuvenate in the Greenhouse Spa & Salon.
This was our first time sailing Holland America, but they were widely praised as the go to cruise line for Alaska, so we gave them a try. While it took us a while to get adjusted to a smaller ship, the itinerary and service were outstanding and we really enjoyed Nieuw Amsterdam overall. We had a Verandah cabin on Deck 8 and the space was nice. A bit on the narrow side, but a good sized balcony and spacious bathroom (as far as cruise ships go). Despite some concerns about being below the Lido deck, there was only one or two mornings where we noticed noise from deck chairs above us. Partially, that was due to having a lot of early mornings on the ship. Food, overall, was quite good. We didn't eat at the Lido often, but most everything we had there was pretty tasty. I did appreciate that most food was served to you and it didn't really slow things down all that much. It was crowded at times, but not overwhelming. It probably helped that we preferred to eat outside on the pool deck whenever possible. Main dining room was, for the most part, decent. We ate all but one dinner, lunch one day, brunch once and breakfast twice there. I'd say the brunch on the last sea day was probably the best meal we had there, but dinners were usually pretty good as well. Service at dinners was great - attentive but not smothering. We ate one specialty dinner, at Pinnacle Grill. It was ok, but not as good as I was anticipating. Fortunately, we didn't pay extra for it, as it was part of our HIA plan. The famed clothesline bacon was chewy, the beef was flavorful, but nothing special, but the desserts were very good. Ports were a highlight of the trip - Ketchikan, while rainy the whole day, was so much fun. We booked a kayaking excursion and saw a whale, harbor seals and a number of bald eagles. Juneau included the helicopter glacier dog sledding excursion. And in Skagway, we did both the White Pass Railway trip plus an afternoon rafting float tour. Activities, in my opinion, is where I really missed a larger ship. The evening entertainment was sorely lacking, the casino very minimal and the bars were ok, but bartenders were very inexperienced. Embarkation in Vancouver was confusing and we got many different contradictory instructions, but overall, it didn't take too long to get on board. And having our rooms ready with our bags in the room right away was a nice change from the mega ships. Disembarkation was the most relaxed we've ever had, especially since we were going from the ship to the train at Whittier, heading to Anchorage to start the land portion of our trip.
Unless you book way in advance the added price of The Have it All is not a good value. We booked 4 months In advance. Crew appreciation was not included $126. pp. We never reached our 15 drink limit. The specialty dinner at the Pinnacle was disappointing. I talked to couples who didn't choose the Have it All Package and had a couple of drinks at dinner. Brought their own good coffee with a plastic drip and it was more flavorful then the coffee bar. The water is filtered at the buffet, easier then waiting at the bar for a couple of cans. We had dinner at the dinning room, it was good, my only disappointment was the dried chicken and bland soups. Lunch in the buffet had a good salad bar but hot food was dry and lacked favor. Staff was nice. Dominic, the Naturalist onboard was very informative.
With refined amenities and Holland America Line signature Mariner’s Dream bed gracing each elegant stateroom, the ship offers six grades of staterooms. Most are ocean-facing, many featuring teak-lined verandas for dining alfresco or private sunbathing.
Holland America Line invites you to dine "As You Wish". To savour Italian cuisine one night and a perfectly grilled porterhouse steak the next. To take your place in the Dining Room at a specific seating time or be spontaneous, following your desires. Onboard, there are restaurants to suit every mood, along with the flexibility to choose the dining style you prefer.
Every day aboard a Holland America cruise ship brings a wealth of cruise activities and indulgences, along with the freedom to partake in as many- or as few- as you please. It's an opportunity to try something new that surprises you, every day. Dabble, discover, daydream- do everything, or do nothing at all.
Whether you want to workout in the Fitness Centre, learn yoga, pamper yourself with a massage and spa treatment, or enjoy a game of basketball, there's a perfect onboard activity for everyone.
Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties.
Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.
Safety Comes First
Safety is our primary concern and strict policies are in place for effective supervision. Adult guests are not permitted to remain in Kids Club unless attending to a special-needs child.
Please note: During voyages with a high number of families onboard, we will make all efforts to accommodate interested parties. However, participation in our program cannot be guaranteed. Hours of operation may change to better serve our guests.
